ᐅ 10x10 m urban villa (approximately 1,670 sq ft, 6 rooms), fine-tuning welcome

Created on: 20 Aug 2017 14:34
C
Changeling
C
Changeling
20 Aug 2017 14:34
Ground Floor:

Floor plan of a house: living/dining area, kitchen, hallway, guest room, guest bathroom, technical/utility room.

Upper Floor:

Floor plan of a house: bedroom, master bathroom, hallway, and three children's rooms (Child 1–3)

Outdoor Areas:

Floor plan of a house with yellow-marked areas: workshop, storage room, wooden garage, and carport.

Positioned on the Plot:

Aerial view of a plot with the garage area marked in yellow and the house’s floor plan shown in white.



Development Plan / Restrictions:
The plot may only be built on the southern half; otherwise, there are no particular restrictions.
Plot size: 900 square meters (approx. 30 x 30 meters / 98 x 98 feet)
Slope: No, only on the west side does the land slope down 3 meters (10 feet) toward the street at the end of the plot. On the north side, there is a retaining wall because the plot is about 2 meters (7 feet) above street level there. Therefore, access by vehicle is only possible from the south.

Clients’ Requirements
Style, Roof Shape, Building Type:
A two-story urban villa with a pyramid hip roof (square hipped roof), since the upper floor has no sloped ceilings.
Basement: No basement, as it is too expensive, impractical, and involves additional construction risks.
Number of Occupants, Age: 2 adults (30 years old), 1 child (3 years old), with 1-2 more children planned.
Living Room: A large, open living area was important to us as this is where life happens. A computer corner is planned in the lower right corner since we spend more time at the computer than watching TV. We also work a lot from home and do not want to be confined to a separate room.
Fireplace: Yes.
Guest Room: Also used as storage space, which is especially useful since there is no basement.
Kitchen: The stove and sink are not in their final positions yet – a cooking island is undesirable because of the extractor hood and impractical due to splashing.
Technical / Utility Room: Also serves as a pantry and should be filled with shelves up to the ceiling.
Children’s Rooms: Size should be adequate.
Bedroom: Almost too large, but necessary due to the large wardrobe and double bed.
Bathroom: The design is still at an early stage; for example, the shower is planned as a built-in enclosure without a cabin.
Terrace: Important to us, along with a covered area so we can leave items outside occasionally.
Garage, Carport: As large as possible! It should be a wooden carport, fully closed at the front with sectional doors, and open or closed at the rear as needed. We currently use our garage as a "second living room" and for storing garden tools and similar items. Due to the long car, space will be tight; likely the terrace will be slightly smaller and the carport deeper (or the roof overhang on the left extended). The additions on the far left are planned later as a garden shed or similar and are therefore not a fixed part of the house. The covered connection to the house is a must, so we can enter without getting wet. The lower part facing the street is purely for privacy and is not a solid wall.
Garden: We will build our greenhouse ourselves as we have it now.

House Design:
Planning by: Planner from a construction company; outdoor areas added by us.
What do you particularly like? Why?: The numerous outbuildings and large carport for space, the large living room with open kitchen (also for space). Also, the level access to the terrace (which we don’t have currently).
What do you dislike? Why?: The basement level feels a bit cramped (utility room/kitchen small), while the upper floor is very spacious, but so far this is the best solution.
Cost Estimate by Architect/Planner: $290,000 USD with a maximum of +10% overrun.
Insulation / Construction: Unfortunately, it is built only to the 2016 Energy Saving Ordinance (EnEV) standards; I would have preferred better insulation, but it is likely too expensive. The masonry consists of calcium silicate blocks (20 cm / 8 inches outside + 16 cm / 6 inches EPS (polystyrene) insulation boards).
Heating System: Ground-source heat pump (brine-water) with earth probe; gas connection would be too expensive and we do not want oil heating.

If you had to give up features / expansions
- Could you do without: At most one fewer children’s room; the rest should stay as is...
- Could you not do without: Everything? That would be difficult.

Why did the design turn out the way it is?
We reviewed suggestions from the planner, spent a weekend designing alternatives ourselves, and ultimately found the current compromise. It includes essentially all our wishes.
The design could have been better if the house orientation had been different; otherwise, the kitchen/terrace/dining area wouldn’t all have to be squeezed next to the carport. However, since the street is on the south side and the northern half of the plot cannot be built on, the house must be positioned as it is and the terrace on the south side to catch the sun. We do not want the carport on the east side, as that would place the house further toward the center of the plot and make the terrace fully visible from the neighboring house to the south.
A similar-sized building plot on the east side will be developed with another single-family urban villa.

What is the most important / fundamental question regarding the floor plan in 130 characters?
What do you think? What could be improved or is missing? Any concerns?
tomtom7920 Aug 2017 14:40
At first glance, where do you plan to store the jackets and shoes for 5 people temporarily?
The master bedroom is tight at 2.8 meters (9 feet 2 inches).

A 2-meter (6 feet 7 inches) bed with a headboard can even be 2.10 meters (6 feet 11 inches) wide, so the 70 cm (28 inches) becomes very tight, especially if there isn’t a TV mounted there. Well.
C
Changeling
20 Aug 2017 15:04
tomtom79 schrieb:
At first glance, where do you plan to temporarily store jackets and shoes for 5 people?

Shoes will go in the carport. Seasonal jackets will be stored in the guest room, and the rest should fit in the hallway and under the (closed) stairs. Fortunately, my wife is not the type to have "5 wardrobes but no idea what to wear the day after tomorrow."
tomtom79 schrieb:
The master bedroom is tight at 2.8 meters
A 2-meter bed with a headboard can even be 2.10 meters wide, then 70 cm (27.5 inches) is very tight if there’s no TV mounted there, well.

We already have our bed, and it fits. There won’t be a TV there; we have other plans for the bed—our family planning is not yet finished.
11ant20 Aug 2017 15:14
Changeling schrieb:
Shoes go in the carport.

That is by far the driest-witted answer I have ever read here in response to a comment about a cloakroom.
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
C
Changeling
20 Aug 2017 15:35
Actually, without humor... we are currently doing the same and it works quite well for us.
kaho67420 Aug 2017 15:45
I always find narrow, hallway-like entrances really unpleasant. Imagine three people trying to enter while two are leaving, maybe with guests in between. It’s terrible. A lot of space is used just for the hallway, which then isn’t even generous.

The utility room is very small. What exactly is supposed to fit in there? We also have geothermal heating. The unit alone requires about 1.50m² (16 sq ft). On top of that, there’s electricity, water, and in your case, a washing machine and pantry. Good luck!

The bedroom feels cramped—I hope you’ll be able to relax there. I would be frustrated having to constantly face such a close, oppressive wall.